Hottest Beard Trends That Are Going To Be Hugely Popular This 2016

With every study hastily pointing to the ‘peak beard’—the concept which states that beards become less attractive to people when they become popular—we decided it was time to cut straight to the chase. While beards are not going anywhere out of sight, they are significantly lessening in both bulk and length! So, ubiquitous or unattractive, beards will very much be a part of your life in 2016 in the form of these 5 trends. 2016 looks good, guys!

1) The Short Beard

Somewhere between the beauty of a full beard and the ruggedness of a stubble lies a short beard that we reckon is going to be a hit this year. Shorter beards are easier to care for; they look tidier and are much more appreciated at your work place too. Moreover, what’s brilliant about short beards are that they are equally manly and rugged and slip in easily with any hairstyle you want. Now since more of your skin will be visible, we advise you to take care of your skin as you would of your beard. Clean well, moisturize and go for trims once every three weeks.

2) The Stubble

The sexier cousin of a short beard that always gets all the ladies is definitely this style, which was also a major trend in 2015. The boss loves it, your mom loves it, so do your SO and it’s sported by the likes of Hrithik Roshan, George Clooney and Ryan Gosling. Enough inspiration to try this style out, no? Use a good quality safety razor for your cheek lines and an equally good trimmer when shaving down the stubble to the length that you desire. Stubbles are extremely close to your skin so taking care of your skin is also important. You can do that by using a face scrub that lifts the hair for a smoother shave and also prevents ingrown hair.

3) The Moustache

All thanks to the glorious Movember and people getting sick at looking at hipsters all around, moustaches, in all its 70s pornstar glory, has made a comeback. Trust me, you’ll turn around to love it simply because moustache looks rad on most Indian men and because it comes with a whole lot of variations. A Tom Selleck-esque moustache either left as is, or contrasted with a well-groomed beard or stubble looks incredible. Growing a mo will require patience and perseverance. Just let it grow for 5-8 months, no touching your upper lip but just grooming the hair on the sides. Occasionally, use a comb to even out the hair and a beard wax to style it like a pro.

4) The Van Dyke

Van Dyke was popular in 2015 and it’s going to be huge in 2016 too. It’s basically a goatee with a twist where the moustache and the chin hair do not connect. Van Dyke needs to be achieved on a clear canvas, so wait for a week after shaving off completely. Let your stubble grow and then shave a circular beard i.e. by shaving your sideburns and cheeks. Shave the bottom and the sides of your neck too but leave your moustache and soul patch as is. When done right, it’s kind of artsy so regular upkeep is a must.

5) The Shorter Long Beard

This one is more tricky than tedious, but one that has the potential to give you a seriously sexy appeal. The shape of this beard will be on the lines of a hipster beard, but it’s still essentially shorter in length. The lines on your cheeks will be sharper—a major contrast to the natural growth below. So you let your beard grow for a month or two and just trim the lines of your cheek, if they are growing too high, and let the bottom beard grow upto two inches below the chin. Take care of it as you would of your full beard, with a beard shampoo and a conditioner, nourishing it with oil and applied with your hands when wet at least twice a week.